Author Interview: Karina Bartow

About the author:
Karina Bartow grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her debut novel, "Husband in Hiding", was released in 2015 and was well-received by readers. She’s excited about her upcoming love story, "Forgetting My Way Back to You", to be released by Vinspire Publishing October 15, 2018. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart!

What inspires you to write romantic fiction?
I've always enjoyed reading love stories, so that's where I started my writing journey. I think seeing people fall in love and how it changes them–for the better, at least!–is beautiful.

Tell us about how you write.
My disability does impede my pace, but I try to write 200-300 words at a time. As for my process, I enjoyed improv in high school drama class, and that's how I write. It's all extemporaneous. I think on where I am in the story throughout my day and sit down with a generic idea of where I want to go, but I never know the details until I'm in the moment.

Do you listen to or talk to to your characters?
At any story's beginning, I'd say I direct them for the most part, but as they develop, they take over! In my upcoming novel, "Forgetting My Way Back to You", I intended to write a classic wedding scene, but once I started it, Hunter, the protagonist, said, "Nope, I'll handle this!" It became my favorite scene.

What advice would you give other romance writers?
From beginning to end, writing is a learning process and one that requires perseverance. Just in creating a piece—poem, short story, essay, or novel—, there may be times you want to give up. Sometimes, I do. But if this is what brings you happiness and satisfaction, stick with it, no matter what anyone may say or even your own doubts. Writing about love can be especially tricky, since it's often complex. With patience, though, you can figure out the right combination.

How did you decide how to publish your books?
I did a lot of research, which showed me the risk self-publishing is. Because I have limited income, I knew I couldn't go that route. While looking for a publisher, I used Writer's Market, where I found my first publisher, Authors Publish, and a variety of other websites that list publishers and agents. I found my current one, Vinspire, through a simple search engine!

What do you think about the future of book publishing?
E-books have caught on fast, but I hope hard copies stick around. Nothing beats holding a book and turning a page!

Which romance sub-genere(s) fit your stories best?
Contemporary

My books are available in the following formats:
eBook, Print